Spirit of Time! dark spoiler thou who midst Thou, who amid the deep solemnities Of evanescent years, with outstretch'd wings, Gray chronicler, thou who unfolds the scroll (To the mind's eye, with clearer ken discern'd) Points to these crumbling relics of his pride And thus exclaims :-" See here thy kindred dust!” Poetic Musings. SCIENTIFIC. Q. What is Lightning? A. Lightning is accumulated electricity, discharged from the Clouds. Q. What causes the discharge of an electric cloud? A. When a cloud, overcharged with Electric fluid, approaches another which is undercharged, the fluid rushes from the former into the latter, till both contain the same quantity. Q. Is there any other cause of Lightning besides the one just mentioned ? A. Yes; sometimes mountains, trees, and church steeples, will discharge the Lightning from a Cloud floating near. Q. How high are the Lightning Clouds from the Earth? A. Sometimes they are as much as four or five miles high, and sometimes they actually touch the Earth with one of their edges; but they are rarely discharged in a thunder storm, if they are more than 700 yards above the surface of the Earth. Q. How high are the clouds generally ? A. On a fine day, the clouds are four or five miles above our head; but the average height of the clouds is from 1 to two miles. Q. Why is Lightning sometimes forked? A. Because the lightning cloud is a long way off; and the resistance of the Air is so great, that the electric current is diverted into a zigzag course. Dr. Brewer. NATURAL HISTORY. AN INTERESTING FACT. A LADY, in Cheltenham, has made a Scarf by her own hand from Home-grown Silk. She gives the following interesting account of its manufacture: 66 Having resided for about three years in a Village in Herefordshire, the garden of which possessed a remarkably fine Mulberry Tree; I wished to give my family an idea of the habits and natural history of the Silk Worm, and the method by which Silk is produced. With this view I procured a quantity of eggs early in the spring of 1847, which were hatched about May; and I placed the Worms, 2,000 or rather more in number, in an out-house in the garden. There they were attended and fed by myself and some of the juvenile members of my family; and in due time they spun; and much wishing to turn the produce of their industry to some use, I directed my attention towards making the Scarf which I have the pleasure of laying before you. The Silk was wound from the Cocoons by my daughter and myself, on a winding machine; and I afterwards wove it into its present form. It has, consequently, never been in the hands of any manufacturer, and presents the same colour and quality, as when taken from the Cocoon. I may add, that the out-house in which the worms lived, had no windows to protect them from the weather, which was unusually cold for the season of the year; as I think this point may illustrate the fact, that our English climate presents no insuperable obstacle to the cultivation of Silk. The Mulberry Tree was the common kind. MEMORIALS OF PIOUS YOUTH. A brief Account of the Experience and happy Death of a Sabbath School Scholar. DAVID SWINSCOE attended the General Baptist Sabbath School, at Carrington. He was not so regular in his attendance as the teachers would have liked; but it evidently appears from his experience, that he paid some attention to the instructions imparted to him, by his teachers. And that he had treasured them up in his heart. At the early age of thirteen years and about eight months, he was overtaken by a disease, that soon reduced his weak and delicate body to almost a skeleton. Being visited by his teachers, he was asked if he knew that he was a sinner; he replied, "Oh! yes, a very great one too!" and began to enumerate a variety of sins that he had been guilty of: and seemed to feel much grieved on account of them. Being reminded that if he died in his sins, he could not go to heaven. He seemed quite sensible of this; but was confident that "Christ died to save sinners," and felt very anxious to embrace that salvation, which "He had purchased by his death on Calvary." He was faithfully and affectionately pointed to "The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," and was told that "Jesus Christ loved them that love him, and those that sought him early should find him.” 66 From these and other portions of God's word that we endeavoured to impress upon his mind, he was enabled to venture his all on Christ; he complied with the request of his dear Saviour, where he says My son, give me thine heart." He gave him his heart; embraced his salvation; obtained the pardon of his sins; was made a child of God; and an heir of heaven. The pains of his body were great, and his sufferings very severe. Disease made rapid progress; his body was getting very weak and feeble. While in such painful circumstances, he was reminded, that from the nature of the disease he would have to endure much pain while here! That this was only a state of trial; it would not last long, and Christ would give him grace to support him. He replied, 'Oh, yes!' 66 Here we suffer grief and pain," "But Christ does support me, he does bless me and enable me to bear it patiently !* At another time when nature was fast decaying, and the pain of body very acute, on being told that when he got to heaven he would feel no more pain; he replied with an extacy of joy, "No!" "Soon will my trouble cease! Heaven is my home! Sighing and tears are o'er! "Sorrow and grief no more! "Dwell on that happy shore! Heaven is my home!" When asked if he should like to get better, he replied "No! I dont want to get better, but I should like to go to school once more; for it is a blessed school; it is a holy place!" Indicating that the instructions he had received there proved a blessing to him in his severe affliction. But he had been to the school the last time! The icy hand of death was laid upon him; it had seized its prey! The last evening of his mortal existence was come! I sat by his bedside, and being convinced that he had not many hours to live, I felt anxious to know his dying thoughts and wishes. But seeing the feeble and emaciated state of his poor body, I began to repeat the promises of God, by way of comfort and support. There was scarcely a promise that I mentioned that was most suited to his case but he would unite in finishing. Yes, the word of God was treasured up in his heart! It taught him resignation to the will of God! But, ah! I saw |